I find the sensation the most painful thing in a long list of malcoordinated domestic habits that I have developed - such as banging my head on the low frame of my cupboard door or treading on the upturned prongs of Mrs Couch's unplugged hairdryer.

So I can only assume that to wrench the same bone from its socket after it comes off worse in a clash against the knee of the world's best goalkeeper must be nothing short of full-scale bloody agony.

I mention this after another typically blinkered observation from the "jobs for the boys" panel who make up Match of the Day's team on Sunday evening (see Couch passim), after Chelsea's John Terry emerged to do a lap of honour during Chelsea's final match of the season against Bolton.

"I think Chelsea would have been better off sending him home to rest" said Gary Lineker, to nods of approval from Messrs Shearer and Lawrenson.

No doubt they would have been. I dare say the thousands who go and watch Chelsea grind out results week-in week-out would similarly benefit from an extra day's rest at home with the family, not to mention sticking the 50-odd sheets they fork out for each game away for a rainy day. But they don't. Which, presumably, is why JT swallowed the painkillers and stayed behind to wave the fans off after another successful - albeit so far fruitless - season.

To be a Chelsea fan is not straightforward. Roman's millions ensure Chelsea can afford to buy any player they want, which, of course, they often do. But it's not always pretty. And as much as they admire Didier Drogba for his undoubted genius, they're usually the first to deride his tendency to react to a mere shoulder charge as though he has been mowed down by a Stalinese firing squad.

John Terry broke through a pain barrier to acknowledge all this. How terribly English. Don Fabio is said to be reticent about handing Terry the England armband because of his public demeanour in the past year. He could do worse than give him another look.

(Picture: Getty Images)